Troubleshooting Tips for You and Your Boat

Boats are notoriously hard to care for. Because they’re constantly facing the elements, it’s common for parts to deteriorate or even break down regularly. To help you find the solution to some of your boat’s most common maintenance issues, we’ve written up the helpful troubleshooting tips below. 

The Outboard is Vibrating

If your outboard engine has begun to vibrate loudly, there’s likely an issue at hand. However, figuring out what it is can be tricky. If the motor often vibrates while in gear, the propeller is likely at fault, and you’ll want to inspect it for damages or caught debris that could be causing the issue. However, if your outboard tends to vibrate while your boat is in neutral, you may need to tighten or replace your engine mounts. If this doesn’t fix the issue, we recommend visiting your nearest mechanic to run some helpful diagnostic checks. 

There are Salt Deposits on Your Outboard

While salt deposits on a boat’s engine isn’t an uncommon issue, it’s one you’ll need to take care of very quickly or risk seriously damaging your outboard. To remove salt deposits, you’ll want to use a tough wire brush and some vinegar to scrub the salt—and any appearing rust—off the surface of your outboard’s steel parts. If you notice that the salt has begun to build up around your motor’s spark plugs, we recommend visiting a mechanic to have the cylinder head bolts re-torqued. 

Challenging Zippers

Air-born debris, such as salt and dust, can make zipping up boat covers or curtains nearly impossible. Even smaller zippers, such as jackets or life vests can be a pain to try and zip up if they’ve been sitting in the salty sea air for some time. Thankfully, solving this issue is relatively easy! Quickly spray on a bit of silicone lubricant and you’ll find your zippers zip up and down with no trouble at all. 

Are you having trouble caring for some of your boat’s more complicated maintenance issues? Then you’ll want to visit us here at New Jersey Outboards. Not only do we offer a full-service repair center at our location here in Bayville, New Jersey, but a wide range of parts and accessories as well. If you’re located nearby in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, or the states of New York and Connecticut, we hope to see you here soon at New Jersey Outboards!